The Character Issue

1 Kings 3:16-28

Our reading from 1 Kings today is very familiar. King Solomon was once approached by two women, each claiming a baby to be their child. Solomon discovered the truth by threatening to split the child in half, at which point the boy’s real mother relented in her claim. I’ve read this story a dozen times, and may have preached from it a time or two, but until today I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about the identity of the two woman. Right at the very beginning of the story we are told that they were prostitutes (1 Kings 3:16). So here’s the question: why did Solomon waste his time seeking justice between women of such low moral character? Surely a king had better things to do than deal with two—what shall we call them? Whores?

Or maybe the real question is this: what would we have done? Would we have allowed the social standing of the women or their immoral character to sway our judgment? Would we have told them they weren’t worthy or our attention? While the story really centers on Solomon’s wisdom we can not ignore the fact that Solomon sought justice regardless of who he was dealing with. Surely we should, too. In fact people of faith should always look for the least and the lost, to offer consolation and a better way. The homeless man with a record of petty crime—should we leave him on the streets to fend for himself? The runaway teenager now addicted to drugs—should she have to live with the mess she’s caused? The illegal alien who faces a sudden health crisis—should we deport her? The man lying by the side of the road who represents everything that we hate or mistrust—should we leave him for someone else to deal with?

We know what we are supposed to do. The prophets made it clear, and so did Jesus. Justice is akin to righteousness. In fact the two go hand in hand. We err when we spend our time meting out what people deserve instead of offering what they need. Besides, aren’t we all sinners in constant need of God’s redeeming grace? Solomon’s wisdom is profound, but I would suggest that his sense of justice is every bit as important. And while we can’t all be “Solomons” we can seek to be the people whom God has called us to be.

Prayer: Lord, may we see with eyes of justice and not of judgment, and may we serve you by showing others justice and compassion. In Jesus’ name. Amen.